History of a Boring Town

Summer days  spent
in someone’s parents’ backyard.
                                         Truth
                                              or Dare.
                                         Justin and Chris
                                     dared to kiss
                              Mark runs in the street
                       in his underwear.
          Out of everyone here
whose parent would you make out with?


                                                                                     …








        
                                                    







                                                                                     …

Mark and Justin sprint
       into the back yard
       spray paint cans rattle
       in their backpacks.
Duck
       down
 behind the porch railing.
We watch a police car drive
                                  slowly
                                          down the street.

                                                                                     …







                                                                                    …

Summer nights
  spent in someone’s
           parents’ backyard –

                  we shout through humid air
                              bare feet slip
                                          on dewy lawns
                  and dilapidated Converse
                             slap against pavement –
                                                                   
                                                   we race forward
                                                               into the night and past the morning –
The girls play
the color game :
Mandy chants : red : red :
green : green
in time with clapping hands
Sharon returns : green : green :
black : black
                      I break                 
                                                            black : black : blue :                 
                                                                                        bl… Dave       
                                                         tackles me, shoves clumps             
                                          of grass down my tank top. Stop                 
                                        this ridiculous game, it’s stupid.                     
                                            Stupid?                                                          
                                         I chase him around the yard.                         
















Mike and Chris stop by with
gifts for everyone:
roses and paintings
records and books.
Slightly soiled
treasures
they found
     dumpster diving.